HB 1885 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for school swimming education program; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for payments on account of school swimming education program; and making an appropriation.

PRINTER'S NO.   2346

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1885
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY GREEN, GIRAL, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, HANBIDGE, HILL-
        EVANS, KHAN, PARKER, FREEMAN, FLEMING AND KENYATTA,
        SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
 6      providing for school swimming education program; in
 7      reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts,
 8      providing for payments on account of school swimming
 9      education program; and making an appropriation.
10      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11   hereby enacts as follows:
12      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
13   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding sections
14   to read:
15      Section 1529.     School Swimming Education Program.--(a)   On or
16   before July 1, 2026, the department shall identify or develop a
17   model curriculum and guidelines for instruction in water and
18   swimming safety for students in grades kindergarten through
19   twelve.
20      (b)     The model curriculum and guidelines under this section
21   shall:
 1      (1)     Be posted on the publicly accessible Internet website of
 2   the department.
 3      (2)     Be age appropriate.
 4      (3)     Be made available to all school entities and, upon
 5   request, to nonpublic schools.
 6      (4)     At a minimum, include instruction on:
 7      (i)     Awareness of water conditions.
 8      (ii)     Safe behaviors in and around the water.
 9      (iii)     The proper use of flotation devices.
10      (iv)     The importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use
11   with water recreation.
12      (v)     Any other subject that the department determines to be
13   appropriate.
14      (c)     Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school
15   entity may utilize the model curriculum and guidelines under
16   this section or develop the school entity's own curriculum in
17   accordance with academic standards and consistent with this
18   section. The following apply:
19      (1)     The school entity may partner with a local parks and
20   recreation agency to provide access to the necessary water and
21   swimming facilities to implement the curriculum under this
22   section.
23      (2)     The school entity may utilize appropriate publicly or
24   privately available materials, personnel and other resources in
25   developing and implementing the curriculum, subject to the
26   requirements of section 111 and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6344 (relating to
27   employees having contact with children; adoptive and foster
28   parents).
29      (d)     The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) is
30   initially appropriated from the General Fund to the department

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 1   to provide for the implementation, administration and
 2   enforcement of this section and for the payments specified under
 3   section 2504.5.
 4      (e)   The department shall promulgate rules and regulations as
 5   necessary to implement, administer and enforce this section.
 6      (f)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
 7   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
 8   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 9      "Department."     The Department of Education of the
10   Commonwealth.
11      "School entity."     A school district, joint school district,
12   charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
13   intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
14      Section 2504.5.     Payments on Account of School Swimming
15   Education Program.--The Department of Education shall pay each
16   school entity that complies with the school swimming education
17   program established under section 1529, from money appropriated
18   under section 1529 or otherwise appropriated by the General
19   Assembly, an amount to be determined by multiplying the number
20   of pupils who have completed the school swimming education
21   program conducted by the school entity by thirty-five dollars
22   ($35).
23      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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